Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association announces board chair, vice chair; readies final call for projects

Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association announces board chair, vice chair; readies final call for projects

Washington Commerce Director Brown, Oregon Energy Director Benner to lead board of public-private organization preparing regional bid for Dept. of Energy clean hydrogen hub Seattle, Wash. — The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) completed its formation with election of Washington Commerce Director Lisa Brown as chair and Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner as vice chair of the board. PNWH2 is a non-profit, public-private partnership leading a regional effort…

Find Ventures and Department of Commerce announce Equitable Innovations Accelerator Cohort

Find Ventures and Department of Commerce announce Equitable Innovations Accelerator Cohort

Ten tech startup founders will form the inaugural cohort and receive up to $100K in philanthropic funding. SEATTLE— After reviewing over a hundred applications, Find Ventures is excited to announce the 10 companies selected to participate in a founder-focused startup accelerator program that will begin in April 2022. Last year, Find Ventures in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, announced its plans to launch a new Equitable Innovations…

Commerce awards first round of economic development grants to five high-growth industries

Commerce awards first round of economic development grants to five high-growth industries

Innovation Cluster Accelerator commits $3 million to launch inaugural cohort OLYMPIA, WA – Recognizing that supporting innovation is essential to driving the transformation of legacy industries and rise of new clusters that will fuel statewide economic growth, the Washington State Department of Commerce recently launched the first cohort of an Innovation Cluster Accelerator. Five organizations will each receive up to $550,000 along with strategic guidance and support to build and…

Find Ventures and Department of Commerce open applications for new Equitable Innovations Accelerator

Find Ventures and Department of Commerce open applications for new Equitable Innovations Accelerator

Groundbreaking new program seeks to fund tech start-up founders from underserved communities SEATTLE, WA — Find Ventures, a Washington state-based nonprofit whose mission is to fund entrepreneurs, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, today launched a new Equitable innovations Accelerator to fuel the start-up community at the earliest stage of business development. This program aims to make “entrepreneurship for all” a reality by prioritizing entrepreneurs from underserved…

Digital Equity moonshot: State launches new Office of Digital Equity to help all Washington residents thrive in a connected world

Digital Equity moonshot: State launches new Office of Digital Equity to help all Washington residents thrive in a connected world

You’re most likely reading this on a device connected to the internet. Consider yourself lucky because 45% of Washington residents either have no internet service in their home or have less than 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed. At that speed, you can check email and browse a few internet sites, but you can’t stream a TV program or movie, participate in a video call, or have a reliable…

As reopening nears, state launches SmartWA dashboard to help small businesses reopen safely

As reopening nears, state launches SmartWA dashboard to help small businesses reopen safely

The SmartWA dashboard and decision tool is one of several Safe Start projects aimed at supporting small businesses through COVID-19 OLYMPIA, Wash. — As Washington state businesses prepare for full reopening on June 30, many are looking for ways to reassure customers and clients that health and safety remains a top priority. To help small business owners identify the safety protocols most likely to be important to customers, the Washington…

State delegation connects with new tech, new business in Germany

State delegation connects with new tech, new business in Germany

Following is a brief wrap-up from Commerce International Trade Specialist Andrew Crowder on this year’s ChooseWashington delegation to Hannover Messe 2018. Where could you see German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Pena Nieto fist bump a robot? Hannover Messe, of course! With 5,800 exhibitors and 210,000 professional trade visitors, “the Messe” is the largest industrial trade show in the world. The interplay between automation and energy technology, IT platforms…

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $500K in Washington state maritime sector innovation

“Washington Maritime Blue 2050” project aims to lead the nation in sustainable ocean industry technology and practices, earns regional innovation strategy grant OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce was awarded a $500,000 grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program to support Washington Maritime Blue 2050, a statewide vision for creating and expanding the nation’s most sustainable ocean industry and technology cluster.…

Commerce to sign agreement with Niedersachsen Ministry during Paris Air Show trip

Commerce to sign agreement with Niedersachsen Ministry during Paris Air Show trip

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Commerce Director Brian Bonlender co-host Washington state’s 70+-member delegation – the largest ever – to the world’s premier aerospace trade show OLYMPIA, WA – U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Washington State Commerce Director Brian Bonlender today kicked off four days of development meetings and VIP events for the state’s largest- ever trade delegation to the 2017 International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France. More…